In the first episode of 2026, Andrew returns to Cost of Goods Soul after a holiday season full of family time, sickness, and significant behind-the-scenes change, and turns his attention to a loaded word: legacy. He questions the cultural obsession with “leaving a legacy,” especially the kind that’s measured in buildings, bank accounts, or history-book mentions, and points out a hard truth: whatever legacy exists is mostly experienced after we’re gone, not by us. Instead of chasing some abstract future reputation, Andrew explores how the pressure to outdo previous generations can quietly breed anxiety, resentment, and a constant sense of never measuring up.
From there, he reframes what he wants to pass down—not a portfolio to be lived up to, but a way of being to be lived out. For the Hepners, that looks like persistence, not quitting on your dreams when the path is hard, loving family and neighbors deeply, and caring for people who can’t care for themselves. He talks about responsible financial stewardship (like life insurance and not leaving a mess of debt) as a baseline, not the ultimate goal, because a life with no need to try or struggle can become a life with no purpose. This episode invites listeners to loosen their grip on the idea of “legacy” and focus instead on living a present, meaningful life that shapes their kids and grandkids through stories, values, and everyday actions—not just what’s written on a building or left in a will.
